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Outmaneuvering the ‘Inevitable’Posted on Feb 15, 2008By E.J. Dionne WASHINGTON—What happened to Hillary Clinton? Last fall, she was the “inevitable” nominee whose “machine” would raise scads of cash and push her to an early victory. She demonstrated poise and knowledge in debates, and party leaders lined up behind her, fearful of missing her fast-moving train. But this narrative was flawed from the beginning. Her campaign has suffered from profound organizational failures, small mistakes that took on larger import, and miscalculations that have put her in a position where to survive, she must defeat Barack Obama in both Texas and Ohio next month. The major flaw in the early story line is that there never was a Clinton machine in the sense of a well-populated organization skilled at turning out votes. Clinton campaigns have always been top-down operations focused on message and media. The Clintons have never lived in a world of precinct captains. Obama, by contrast, was shaped by his early work as an organizer for the Industrial Areas Foundation and his political life in Chicago, a place where people still talk about ward committeemen and harbor memories of something that was called “The Organization.” Advertisement His respect for organization paid off in states that select delegates through caucuses rather than primaries. In the 11 caucus states so far, Obama has won 247 delegates to 128 for Clinton, and the difference between those two numbers is roughly comparable to Obama’s overall lead in delegates. The Clinton campaign has a point when it argues that the upscale people who support Obama are more likely to go to caucuses than Clinton’s less-affluent fans on the night shifts. But in many caucus states, painstaking work gave Obama enormous margins that allowed him to win a delegate premium under party rules. Organizing costs money, and it’s now clear that Obama not only spent his cash more shrewdly, he also adapted better to the new world of political fundraising. Obama took Howard Dean’s online achievement of 2004 and jumped it forward a couple of generations in size and sophistication. Obama now has a vast pool of small contributors giving him modest amounts over and over, much as churchgoers regularly drop donations onto collection plates. And he has tapped a group of fundraisers well adapted to the new rules that restrict six-figure soft money gifts. In addition to the Clinton camp’s original sins, there were also the mistakes that typically happen in long campaigns. After performing almost flawlessly in the 2007 debates, she offered a convoluted answer during an Oct. 30 encounter to a question about driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants. That single lapse proved to be a costly error. Then came the large miscalculation in how Bill Clinton should be deployed. As long as he spoke positively about his achievements and his wife’s abilities, the former president aroused warm nostalgia. But when he went after Obama, especially in South Carolina, Clinton turned off even longtime friends and helped consolidate the African-American vote behind Obama. South Carolina was Hillary Clinton’s Waterloo, and the numbers tell the story: Before South Carolina, national polls gave her leads as high as 15 to 20 points; by Super Tuesday, her advantage was almost gone. Her larger problem, which she must solve if she is to best Obama in the March 4 primaries, is reflected in her struggle to find a message, a purpose and a voice suited to the disoriented mood in American politics bred by the frustration of the later Bush years. Obama is inspirational, of course, but in a particular way: His message has been constant since his boffo Nov. 10 speech at an Iowa Democratic dinner. He is less specific about policies than he is in describing the frustrations voters feel—with Bush, with Washington, with divisiveness, with partisanship. His consistent promise is not to pass a detailed program, but to change the mood and style of politics. Clinton has offered experience and some well-thought-out policies. That might be enough in a different year. But when it comes to a larger theme, her campaign has been all over the lot. You can tell a campaign has difficulty establishing a message when its slogans keep changing. In recent weeks, the Clinton campaign has featured one banner after another: “Big Challenges, Real Solutions,” “Working for Change, Working for You,” “Ready for Change, Ready to Lead” and “Solutions for America.” Obama has stuck confidently with the slogan “Change You Can Believe In.” Clinton must either get voters to stop believing in the change Obama promises, or make them an alternative Big Offer that they can believe in more. E.J. Dionne’s e-mail address is postchat(at)aol.com. © 2008, Washington Post Writers Group Elsewhere: . CommentsAre you a Truthdig member yet? Login now, or register with Truthdig. Add Your Comment
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A Progressive Journal of News and Opinion. Editor, Robert Scheer. Publisher, Zuade Kaufman.
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By Leefeller, February 19, 2008 at 10:58 pm #
What is going on in the great stake of Texas, they have liberal KKK meetings, you keep mentioning Obamas being black, you almost sound like you got a good case of black a phobia, sort of like homo phobia.
What do you do sing Kimbia before you burn a cross on someones lawn? You seem to have a thing for Obama and how he looks, me thinks you may not be healthy.
We can bicker all we want, it is sort of knee jerk reactions, but I believe we are screwed no matter who gets into office. History has proven this is so.
So vote your choice, we do not count anyway.
Report thisBy Aegrus, February 19, 2008 at 6:23 pm #
These comments are nice, but I really am expecting Obama to solidify his economic plan amongst voters. This will ensure his victory in both Texas and Ohio, and thus provide him with the Democratic nomination.
It becomes too easy to lean on these silly tit-for-tat phrases the candidates use. I think being part of the Obama movement obliges some self-discipline and understanding to the significance of some statements. He has better attributes to pronounce.
Report thisBy Tony Wicher, February 19, 2008 at 6:11 pm #
I just saw Obama on TV saying this at a rally:
My opponent says speeches don’t put food on the table. Oh yeah? Well NAFTA didn’t put food on the table either.
Wham! Spank! Go Obama!
Report thisBy Maani, February 19, 2008 at 6:08 pm #
Lib:
ROFLMAO! You go, girl! I would add “war funding-supporting, Patriot Act-supporting, anti-student loan, speech-stealing INCREDIBLY lucky.”
Why “lucky?” Because one thing the Obama supporters forget is the way he became a U.S. Senator to begin with.
Obama first ran against Brian Hull in the primary. Hull had a substantial lead coming into the election, but lost much of that lead when he became embroiled in a domestic abuse charge. Yet despite this, and despite last-minute endorsements from over half a dozen heavy hitters, Obama only won 52% of the vote.
In the general election, he was up against republican Jack Ryan. However, Ryan dropped out of the race (fairly late) when he became embroiled in a very public and tawdry custody battle with his wife, actress Jeri Ryan. This left Obama with no opponent at all. Alan Keyes took up the challenge late in the campaign (since the GOP needed SOMEONE to fill the slot), but given Keyes well-established bizarre personality, Obama won 70% of the vote.
Thus, Obama became a U.S. Senator via a series of unforeseen - and flat-out lucky - circumstances: had Hull not become embroiled in the domestic abuse situation, we would not even know who Barack Obama is, since Hull was highly respected and had solid centrist-progressive positions on many issues of importance to Illinois voters.
Peace.
Report thisBy lib in texas, February 19, 2008 at 12:02 pm #
OBAMA is a shyster, ugly, big eared, stinky feet, blue mouthed from kool aid, ignorant, piece of doo doo. Now that sounds just like you Hillary bashers.
Report thisHow do you like it ????? Makes as much since as you do. One thing about OBAMA he hasn’t been around long enough to be tested. You just LOVE his plagiarized speeches, not smart enough to even think up his own stuff as he claims he does. WHAT a phony.
By Leefeller, February 19, 2008 at 11:26 am #
Lib in texas sounds like a twist of words.
Report thisNow that is vague!
By lib in texas, February 19, 2008 at 11:22 am #
If OBAMA is elected we will go in a different direction alright and it will be one you won’t like. Won’t give you specifics as you don’t like consumers reports. I can be as vague as you OBAMA supporters.
Report thisBy lib in texas, February 19, 2008 at 11:16 am #
Thank you Maani for doing you reseach alto I don’t think the whack o’s will read it. Cyrena, keeps babbling that she wants others to give her reasons for voting for Hillary when in fact she has no reason for voting for BARACK. I know she hasn’t done her homework on BARACK cause she thought he was raised in Kansas and had a Kansas accent. HA Doesn’t take a lot of looking to find out that isn’t true.
Report thismid city mike is just nuts. Aerus must be paid by the OBAMA group to spread the lies that he posts.
THEY either like OBAMA cause he’s black or they like his preachy orator because he has no substance, but THEY like him, give these long long speechy posts that say nothing because they know nothing. It just might take a little work to find something out that could just be TRUE!!!
By Leefeller, February 19, 2008 at 10:59 am #
Interesting Aegrus comments on Hillary, they may or may not be true, but that is how I perceive her.
Look Maani, I know Obama is not innocent, but the degrees of guilt lay on the Hillary side. She has so much baggage and I am not talking about the ones under her eyes. (Is that sexist)
Obama talks and addresses the people, Hillary talks down to them like they are kids.
Doing homework is what we all are doing, just you want to approach it like consumers reports with a bias for your candidate.
My feeling is Hillary will be more of the same, I am willing to vote for Obama to see if we can go in a different direction. If he cuts back on Lobbies more power to the people. At least he is talking about it.
Shadyness of the Clinton s, the persona they portray troubles me even to discomfort. I am tired of them.
Report thisBy Aegrus, February 19, 2008 at 10:41 am #
Additionally, Cyrena, Senators aren’t often voted into office specifically because their experience is seen as irrelevant when compared to a governor or white house official. It’s quite interesting we only have Senators to choose from this election. Major differences between the three? One likes war, one really likes war, and one only likes war a little. };>
Report thisBy cyrena, February 19, 2008 at 5:00 am #
Mike,thanks for pointing this out, and giving lib from Texas some FREE education.
“No your wrong. She went to Yale with Bill stupid.”
I love it.
I was about to do the same, even though I pretty much avoid bothering responding to this poster, since s/he has proved his/her stupidity before.
Harvard indeed. That’s where OBAMA got HIS law degree.
Poor lib in Texas. It’s sad. I guess this would make us wonder how lib managed to get to Obama High School grade transcripts. But then, I didn’t need convincing to know that lib was full of well….there’s a lot of manure in Texas.
Didn’t GWB spend some time there? Yep, I think he did.
Which just proves how smart Hillary is. She and her former law firm, (Rose something) represented GW Bush in one of his failed Oil Deals, when he ‘owned’ Harken Oil, and ripped off so many investors. Yep, Hillary saved him that time.
So, she’s pretty smart. Just didn’t get her law degree from Harvard.
That was Obama lib. Can you remember that? If so, the next thing to commit to memory is that lawyers practice various areas of the law. Hillary was a CORPORATE lawyer, (she didn’t practice that long) representing both corporations and individuals, (like George W Bush in his Harken Oil scam).
Obama is a Civil Rights attorney, which encompasses more and more the Human Rights component of International Law. Civil Rights law also falls on the ‘public interest law” side of the column. It’s the difference between BIG PAY, (like corporate lawyers make) and little pay, as in pro bono work.
So, lawyer/attorney Hillary Clinton = BIG MONEY.
lawyer/attorney Barack Obama = little money.
That’s the way it goes, but it has less to do with ‘smarts’ than it does with morality, ethics, greed, etc, etc.
Report thisObama was also a Professor of Law at DePaul University in Chicago.
By cyrena, February 19, 2008 at 1:57 am #
Could you just tell us then, WHY you ARE supporting her?
I’ve only been trying to get that from your for a couple of months now Maani.
So, did I miss it?
In short, can you give us a general synopsis of why YOU support Hillary Clinton for POTUS, and the only rule is that you can’t use a comparative basis in your argument. It has to be a STAND ALONE and independent rational FOR the good things about Hillary, (and what she’s accomplished so far) that either YOU or others can use as objective considerations for supporting her.
So, comparisons to Obama are not considered reasons, at least for this purpose. And, apologies for what others might view as screw ups aren’t good either.
Just tell us why YOU support her, and why YOU think that she would be a good choice, and try to think of some GOOD, POSITIVE or EFFICIENT actions that she has undertaken. Don’t worry about whether or not OTHERS view these as good, positive, or efficient. Just tell us what the POSITIVE stuff is, that Hillary Clinton brings to the things that you consider to be reasons to elect her.
No need to hurry. It’s only my 93rd request, and admittedly, I seem to be the only one who’s much interested.
Report thisBy Maani, February 19, 2008 at 1:23 am #
Leefeller:
You know, you would be much more convincing if you actually supported your statements.
Re the FDA and business influence in government agencies, this predates Clinton. Yes, he probably added to it, as all president have done. But to blame HIM for this is absurd in the extreme; he didn’t invent it, and he probably did less of it than some former presidents.
Re lobbies, you have it wrong on both ends. First, Obama is not “new” to the feeding trough. Obama took lobby and PAC money for each of his three senate runs, two state, one federal. In fact, when he ran for the U.S. Senate in 2006, the year that Hillary ran for re-election, he took MORE lobby and PAC money than she did! But you wouldn’t know this since you don’t make any attempt to find out whether the accusations you make are true or not.
As well, Hillary has taken just over $800,000 in lobby money this year, and a little more than $30,000 in PAC money (Obama took about $3,000 in PAC money). And while one can certainly shake a finger here, it needs to be seen in perspective: Hillary raised over $100 MILLION; so $800,000 and $30,000 are little more than chump change.
As for business and industry money, I have outlined in details their comparative campaign donations, which are almost equal: Obama took more from some industries than Hillary did (e.g., energy), and she took more money from some industries than he did (e.g., lawyers). But in most cases (particularly the banking and investment business) their campaign contributions are virtually equal.
It does not surprise me that you and other Hillary bashers here don’t “do the homework.” Because you know that if you did, you might just find that you are wrong, and that Obama is not the innocent you make him out to be.
Peace.
Report thisBy cyrena, February 19, 2008 at 12:37 am #
Aegrus,
I say AMEN to this excellent post! The whole piece is great, but this really does put the truth to the light
Hillary DOES have a lot of good points, but her campaigners are just so self-righteous and arrogant about her victory they wouldnt dream of actually debating on real issues or talking about her quality as a candidate. Supporters of Clinton get too much enjoyment on trying to close the door on the Obama presidency via cheap tricks, poll guarding and misrepresentation. Their lives consist of defending their queen from dumbass opinionists on MSNBC and browbeating Air America and Ed Schultz listeners for having their own thoughts. Hegemony is the spear of Clinton.
Needless-to-say, Hillary has done herself in, more than anyone has done to her. But, her supporters havent helped her. I have questioned them, (more times than I can count) on exactly WHY we should support her, and WHAT it is that shes got to bring to the job.
I have YET to get a reasonable, objective, or non-ideological response with, just the facts. I havent even been able to get a response from these supporters on what they PRESUME to be the facts, or the list of her strengths/accomplishments. As a result, despite all of this spilled ink, Ive had to actually search on my own, to find those good points that Hillary actually does have, that might give me or any other voter a reason to consider her.
I think Hillary is good as a bureaucrat, and lets face it, we need a bureaucracy. As much as I dont like the bloated bureaucracy, and the insanity of what it has become, a society cannot operate without a bureaucracy; specifically one that calls itself a democracy. I wish we had more lawmakers that were willing to KNOW the law, and work within the structure of THE RULE OF LAW, which is what democracy is founded upon. I honestly believe that Hillary can be a highly skilled lawmaker and bureaucrat, even though her votes on the issues that have MOST affected the well being of our democracy have been highly questionable.
Still, that is isolated to the BIG issues, and its not only her initial vote to authorize what is an ILLEGAL war of aggression, as well as an immoral war of aggression, but just as much her continued support for that initial vote. That casts serious doubts on whether or not she actually KNOWS the law, (that required UN approval before launching such an atrocity). And, if we can assume that she DID know the law, and has chosen to continue to support the illegality of it, then that speaks to yet another serious lapse in the type of judgment required to be not just a legislator, when ones judgment is considered via consensus, but for sure as the chief decision maker.
Meantime, she has proved to be smart in many areas, and yet none of her supporters ever sites those things. Rather, they choose to present her credentials in quantitative terms, and ONLY in contrast to Obamas, rather than in stand-alone terms that speak to her abilities from both quantitative as well as qualitative measures.
Experience is their best shot, since experience IS important. But then, when we start breaking down exactly what her experience IS, (even by cheating and measuring it against Obama, rather than on a stand-alone basis) we dont see all that much. We see that shes been a Senator for 6 years. So, that would require examining her work in the job. But, nobody ever really gets to telling us about any of the good things shes done as a Senator, and the rest simply doesnt count for much. All of the First Lady stuff goes under the extra curricular activities category. Yeah, its worth consideration, but its not the same experience as her Senatorial duties.
And then of course when we consider all of it, the bad experience is gonna have to come to light as well. Her supporters end up as apologists for that part, instead of as supporters for what she can actually DO!
Report thisBy Leefeller, February 18, 2008 at 11:08 pm #
Hillary has some good points and they all are not necessarily on her head. My main reason for not voting for Hillary is because I am an organic farmer and the FDA is so screwed up, with cronies from the chemical companies like Dupont and Monsanto, when Bill-o was president, he stuck the fox in the chicken coop like clock work, so now we have chemical company cronies running the FDA, not much different than Bush. It is much more complex than this but you get the gist. Lobbies are another sore subject with me, we the people have little input at D.C. because the Lobbies wine and dine the clowns we vote for. Obama being new to the feed trough, he sees this as a bad thing, I agree.
Maani, what does Hillary say about Lobbies? Since she used to work for Wall Mart, I have a feeling she likes the lobbies, including the likes of Monsanto.
Some substance would be nice from Hillary, Hillary supporters keep attacking Obama for his ability to bring people together and fire them up. Seems Hillary fires up her pocket book.
Now I must say, I feel sorry for Hillary, she may be going down, and does not see the hand writing on the wall. Obama is so much more positive. Now taking my chances and paying my dues, I pick Obama over Hillary without flinching.
Report thisBy j islas, February 18, 2008 at 10:52 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
At this juncture in politics for change, HRC lacks the leadership qualities to inspire change. HRC has proved her ability to read the POLITICAL winds and side with resolutions that will make her more politically palatable to all sides-not the qualities of a leader. Hence, her vote on Iraq and Iran. The only option left for HRC is to go negative and “cry” for more debates. BHO will destroy HRC at the next debate - I guarantee it.
Report thisBy steve, February 18, 2008 at 7:10 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Hillary for President! Obama for President! How about 8 more years of President Bush! Does it really matter if Hillary or Obama are elected or even if President Bush continues for another 8 years? This is now a totally new ballgame. It’s called “you” no longer count and neither does your vote. All of “you” answer to us: The Multinational Corporations. We are the men who really run this country. I’m sure Exxon Mobile and Chervon and Citigroup etc are all having a big laugh watching all of us with our signs and slogans knowing it is all a big fraud to begin with.
Report thisBy Aegrus, February 18, 2008 at 7:04 pm #
Expect to see much vitriol via Libby and supporters of the same ilk in the coming weeks. Hillary Clinton’s campaign managers have again decided to take the low road and are currently employing extremely aggressive tactics trying to cow Obama’s supporters into the Clinton penn (Mark Penn? Good Pun? Naaah).
This is a sign of things to come. Keep being objective because this is the last effort Hillary can make, and it will fail to give her any traction. These hyper-aggressive scare tactics only serve to destroy her appeal. Democracy will prevail.
This is only the beginning of a rebirth of Americanism.
Report thisBy lib in texas, February 18, 2008 at 6:56 pm #
OBAMA pimps his wife I just saw her being pimped.
Report thisYour rant makes no sense, your are doing the hollering, whining, pathetic !! You have posted nothing but pure hate!!! That is exactly how the election will be handled with hate. Its going to take more than a plagiarizing, big eared, arrogant bast*** to pull the country together. There how did you like that rant ????
By lib in texas, February 18, 2008 at 6:44 pm #
tony w , so you are another Obama fan who likes rhetoric and shucking and jiving!!!
Report thisBy lib in texas, February 18, 2008 at 6:42 pm #
Felicity, It was the teachers union that objected, Clinton’s had nothing to do with it. But you Hillary
Report thishaters pick out parts you like.
By lib in texas, February 18, 2008 at 6:36 pm #
Ken in Barbados, for your info Hillary also has a law degree from Harvard. She is far more intelligent than BARACK OBAMA. He was an average student in high school. Hillary was an honor student then.
Report thisBy lib in texas, February 18, 2008 at 6:30 pm #
aegrus, SO you are one of those non thinking people who like rhetoric. Your talking points are non existent.
Report thisBy Aegrus, February 18, 2008 at 6:25 pm #
Libby, you support every argument made in my post. Thanks for your support. It’s people like you who make the Barack Obama campaign so strong! Love ya!
Report thisBy lib in texas, February 18, 2008 at 6:22 pm #
aegrus, Your whole post is a jumble of UNTRUTHS. I am not going to debate it point by point or I’d be doing it all day. Do you just make this up or are you given this misstatements by someone else.
Report thisBy lib in texas, February 18, 2008 at 6:17 pm #
stop with the vote to start war - you have to be a republican for 2 reasons. 1. they have a one track mind. 2. can’t find anything reasonable to say JUST LIE.
Report thisBy Aegrus, February 18, 2008 at 5:03 pm #
You’re allegiance to Hillary Clinton is so cute. All these talking points, with their lack of substance, just make me smile at her dying relevance.
Report thisBy Aegrus, February 18, 2008 at 5:01 pm #
Leefeller, keep in mind Hillary Supporters are not Hillary Clinton. The people supporting Clinton’s campaign get all their news from ‘Hill Hub’ (what a name!). These constituents also continually spout all the talking points given out in official e-mails (Like the ‘Obama scared to debate’ bullshit) and are generally robots or frightened non-activists with little credibility. No one takes these spinbots seriously anymore.
Hillary DOES have a lot of good points, but her campaigners are just so self-righteous and arrogant about her victory they wouldn’t dream of actually debating on real issues or talking about her quality as a candidate. Supporters of Clinton get too much enjoyment on trying to close the door on the Obama presidency via cheap tricks, poll guarding and misrepresentation. Their lives consist of defending their queen from dumbass opinionists on MSNBC and browbeating Air America and Ed Schultz listeners for having their own thoughts. Hegemony is the spear of Clinton.
All the Clintonisas, Clintonites and Clinton Campaign Fiends need to face the facts about Hillary’s campaign. She has not run on her merits. Her advertisements are largely either inaccurate or bizarre. She still can’t shed the inauthentic aura around her when she speaks. She’s adopted every other candidate’s campaign slogan and causes. She’s defended PACs and lobbyists. She continues to be ultra-divisive. Her claims to experience are skeptical at best. She came into the candidacy thinking her nomination was inevitable, and has flopped around since Super Tuesday because she lost and has kept losing.
Learn now, Clintonites, HILLARY CLINTON IS NOT GOING TO WIN! Join the Barack Campaign. Both candidates are Democrats. You keep whining about how they are the same on all the issues, so why don’t you come over to our winning side instead of begging us to come to your losing side? None of you have anything to say which contributes to discussion, you just complain and blindly defend Hillary in spite of all the evidence that her campaign is a fluke, flopping, failing folly, which has not provided any real hope or real action in eight years. Get with the times, Clintonites.
Report thisBy Maani, February 18, 2008 at 3:13 pm #
Leefeller:
“Vote Hillary, she has experience and is entitled to become president, because she is a woman and you say so.”
I don’t ever remember saying that I am voting for Hillary because she is “entitled” to be president or because she is a woman, nor do I ever remember suggesting that anyone else vote for her for those reasons.
Was that short enough? LOl.
Peace.
Report thisBy Leefeller, February 18, 2008 at 12:52 pm #
Of course this is going to be short. Vote Hillary, she has experience and is entitled to become president, because she is a woman and you say so. Go Mani.
Now, if I wanted to slam Hillary this would be much longer than Mani’s diatribe on Obama.
Peace o pie
Report thisBy Maani, February 18, 2008 at 12:41 pm #
Ken said: “Obama, within all of his lofty speeches and ideals, teaches us one very important thing: that at least with a Harvard degree, a sense of hope and the understanding of a constitutional scholar he certainly understands America fundamentally - its history, where its roots are.”
No, what all his lofty speeches teaches us is that people are more interested in lofty speeches than in substance, as noted by Yossarian’s comment below.
i,Q said, “Obama succeeds most by continuing to be the Obama he was ‘on day one.’”
Really? On “day one” he was virulently opposed to the war. When he got to the Senate, he voted to fund that war continuously. On “day one,” he was strongly pro-civil liberties. When he got to the Senate, he voted to re-authorize the Patriot Act, twice. On “day one,” he was strongly for helping college students. When he got to the Senate, he voted against a bill that would have extended college loans and student subsidies (which is incredibly ironic, since much of his support is from college kids…). Etc.
Sheila said, “Clinton is in deep shit because of her voting record in the senate. It is exactly the same as centegenarian, addled, right wingnut John McCain.”
You obviously know zero about their voting records, which are not similar at all. Whereas the voting records of Hillary and Obama were the same 94% of the time, on virtually every conceivable issue - the closest of any two senators in Congress.
Cyrena said, “Positions for…candidates [and] their policies and PLANS for implementing those plans, are the guts of what make the bureaucratic machine operate, and we all depend on the semi-efficiency of that…And, Hillary IS strong on those details…The thing is, the mood of the American public these days is focused LESS on how the changes will be accomplished…and more concerned with the larger picture..what is it gonna look like, and how will it work when the renovation is complete. Obama apparently picked up on this distinction…Obama said that when he was first campaigning…a common complaint from the people was they he was too professoritorial, providing far more detail than they really cared about. So, he has obviously made adjustments along the way…Hillary…provides these details, and gets stuck on things that she probably doesnt get across to the public the way she might actually intend, or maybe she misreads the overall public mentality.”
The above is answered perfectly by Yossarian:
“Senator Clinton also has made the same mistake the quickly dismissed marginal candidates made. She released some detailed solutions to political problems. Doing so forces the voters to think. We dont like that.”
And there we have it. Obama is caught on to the fact that people don’t want to think; they want to be inspired by rhetoric and placated by palliatives. As Yossarian implies, candidates like Kucinich, who talked “detailed solutions” and “policy” were quickly sidelined and/or dismissed. Yet many people here were impressed - even proud - that Kucinich stuck to his guns and discussed details. Yet when Hillary does the same thing, people accuse her of “misreading the overall public mentality” - which is, as Yossarian notes, that the public “doesn’t want to think” and, as Cyrena notes, that the public “doesn’t really care about details.”
If that is what Obama’s “adjustments” were about - pandering to people’s unwillingness to THINK, but rather to be “inspired” by rhetoric - then Obama is cynical to a degree that should make people think twice about his motives and intentions.
Peace.
Report thisBy cyrena, February 16, 2008 at 8:18 pm #
I love it. Been saying the same myself for some years. You just said it far, far better…
It’s about, -us- yeah, yeah, yeah, it’s all about US.
WE will win…
Report thisBy rage, February 16, 2008 at 8:07 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Great post, IQ.
I agree. Obama’s Presidential candidacy is more a movement, a call for us to get into action, than a political campaign.
Win, lose, or draw, America will have greatly benefited from his engaging motivation of bystanders and sideliners his rhetoric has inspired, folks who ordinarily would never dare to participate in the political discourse.
Report thisBy Leefeller, February 16, 2008 at 2:58 pm #
Gay Cocaine Sex In A Limo, find your comment so tabloid. Just dying to read more. You missed the pedophile diaper wearing hokey pokey main part of the story though.
Report thisBy Tony Wicher, February 16, 2008 at 2:07 pm #
Hillary doesn’t have a clear message because all she really believes in is winning.
Report thisBy jackpine savage, February 16, 2008 at 1:26 pm #
Amen. This is what i think is most often missing from discussions about Sen Obama; it is also what he should be stressing more than he does…i mean saying overtly and repeatedly.
I don’t put my hope in Sen Obama’s ability to change the world. My hope is that if he wins, his call will be answered by (particularly) two generations that have been mostly cynical and non-participatory.
Excellent post, I,Q.
Report thisBy Patrick Walker, February 16, 2008 at 11:13 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Um, if you hadn’t noticed, someone stood in front of a microphone and has started Swift Boating Obama with this whole “Larry Sinclair” crap. Remember how the whole Lewinsky scandal started. It started with the tabloids but the media used the stories in the tabloids to begin talking about it.
Obama better secure the hatches because the torrent of right-wing bullcrap is about to start. They’ll just keep flinging it and flinging it in the hopes that something will eventually stick. It will be nonstop and the entire media will begin to chime in with reports on how the reports are coming out and how those reports are affecting his momentum.
It ties in DIRECTLY with the opening if you had bothered to take your blinders off.
Edwards WAS a fool to drop out. I don’t think Obama really is ready to handle it; he’s never had to. All the criticism from the press has been solely directed at HRC while Edwards was jumping up and down desperately trying to get attention.
Flowery speeches will not win over people if the right-wing hate machine ramps up. I would *love* to think otherwise but I’ve been on this planet for long enough to know better.
Report thisBy Ken in Barbados, February 16, 2008 at 10:54 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
The Clinton strategy all along was to get to Super Tuesday and have it all wrapped up. Her managers were geared for it, her rank and file were geared for it, she and Bill were spending as if that was the coronation day… it never came to pass.
They underestimated the desire for change in America, if not the world and expected the world to turn in their favor.
OOPS!
Barack Obama, within all of his lofty speeches and ideals, teaches us one very important thing: that at least with a Harvard degree, a sense of hope and the understanding of a constitutional scholar he certainly understands America fundamentally - its history, where its roots are… the rest of this political crowd are merely thin slices of the American pie when compared to his broad appeal and insight. I know one thing… whoever is selected to fix this screw-up better have all of us behind him/her, rowing as hard as hell.
Report thisBy yossarian100, February 16, 2008 at 9:28 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
I get that Senator Obama is winning the war of slogans while Senator Clinton can’t seem to find one that resonates. Senator Clinton also has made the same mistake the quickly dismissed marginal candidates made. She released some detailed solutions to political problems. Doing so forces the voters to think. We don’t like that. Most of the marginal candidates on both sides of the aisle offered specific platform points and they offered them in great detail. It seemed the more platform points and the more details offered, the more quickly these candidates were dispensed with by both mainstream media and the voters. We’re now left with a campaign that boils down to political savvy and who has the catchiest slogan.
Personally, I would have enjoyed a national campaign between Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul with at least 20 university style debates. That would have been something to see.
Report thisBy Expat, February 16, 2008 at 8:45 am #
^ “the people” are listening.
Report thisBy i,Q, February 16, 2008 at 6:14 am #
i’m glad that Dionne draws attention to an important detail which i feel gets left out of the mainstream assessments. They are very busy trying to dissect what is going on in terms of race or sex or social class, but for my money, Obama succeeds most by continuing to be the Obama he was “on day one.”
It is a turn off to many people to witness the shape-shifting contortions performed by Team Hill. This is only compounded by what might as well be the overarching slogan of her campaign: “I know what’s best for you!”
i agree with TJ that Obama’s call to action is invigorating, and if you actually listen to it and act on it, it has the added benefit of potentially working. The government is not a tube-sock puppet on corporate America’s fist unless we continue to let it be. We are the United States, goddamnit! And where were we when we let go of our pride? We did not gather together and protest loudly or long enough to bring an end to the idiot’s reign. We stayed home and bitched to our liberal friends about what a fascist he is. We waxed eloquently in blog postings about how hopeless it is to go up against Big Brother and his corporate dominatrix.
Regardless of who becomes the next president, the meaning of the message should not be discarded. Beneath the candy coated veneer of hope and togetherness, Obama is calling us out. Put our money where our collective mouth is. i can already see the refutations mount on the tips of cynics’ fingers aching to destroy this post as naively optimistic and to detail how sorrowfully disappointed we’ll all be when Obama becomes president. But if you really think hard about it, Obama is right, and if you do nothing to change the sh!t you constantly bitch about, you should expect nothing to change.
“We are who we’ve been waiting for.”
Report thisBy sheila, February 16, 2008 at 5:31 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Clinton is in deep shit because of her voting record in the senate. It is exactly the same as centegenarian, addled, right wingnut John McCain. She has sucked up to our brilliant president at every turn. So what experience is she referring to? Her “experience” should exclude her from public office. Not so much of a role model for young women either. Mommy, why does she stay with him?
Report thisBy i,Q, February 16, 2008 at 5:18 am #
Not to mention that in the “War on Undocumented Aliens” for which i have heard no plan of action, only xenophobic rhetoric and conflation with the war on terror (oh and the ridiculous wall which i suppose we will catapult them back across once it’s completedbut still no actual plan to find them first), issuing Driver Licenses would document these folks so one could actually find them once they figure out what to do with them and how to finance such an undertaking.
Report thisBy i,Q, February 16, 2008 at 5:08 am #
Regarding Patrick Walker’s opening lines, i don’t find it particularly insightful to state the obvious.
Report thisBy i,Q, February 16, 2008 at 5:04 am #
HillAry
Report thisBy cyrena, February 16, 2008 at 4:44 am #
What an odd combination in these comments..
First you start out with some reasonable insight about the state of the media, and the trash that we get from it. Not much of any sort of decent investigative journalism left. I agree, at least from the MSM, and just as much from some of the AM. Bullshit stuff that nobody cares about. Then you say this
now theres this whole Larry Craig Gay-Cocaine-Sex-In-A-Limo allegation on the Obama side ..Edwards was a fool to drop out when he did I think.
So, tell me, do you really indulge in entertaining yourself with the gay-cocaine-sex-in-a-limo allegation stuff? Because if so, then that pretty much negates any intelligent insight that you displayed at the beginning.
I mean, is that from the tabloids? (I dont know, since I dont read the tabloids, and Ive not heard anything about these particular allegations just the Larry Craig mens room episode). Still, the other stuff about Obama sounds totally ridiculous, and I wouldnt even believe that about Hillary, or any other candidate.
Report thisBut if you believe that the smear machine would do this, why do you think they wouldnt do it to John Edwards? Oh hes white. I forgot. Didnt seem to stop the repug scum from Swiftboating his running mate 4 years ago though.
OK, get back to your tabloids, that appears to be where your info comes from.
By troublesum, February 16, 2008 at 1:46 am #
Hillary should have remembered Goldwater’s slogan - “A choice, not an echo” and left her husband at home.
Report thisBy troublesum, February 16, 2008 at 1:38 am #
No great mystery here. It’s just Clinton fatigue. 16 years is a long time and the campaign is way too long. In England the national election campaigns last six weeks. If it takes you longer than six weeks to say where you stand you’re not qualified.
Report thisAlso everyone gets to vote not just people in the provinces.
By cyrena, February 15, 2008 at 11:39 pm #
EJ gets right to the heart of the matters here. I always like it when journalists cut to the chase. And, here it is:
Her larger problem, which she must solve if she is to best Obama in the March 4 primaries, is reflected in her struggle to find a message, a purpose and a voice suited to the disoriented mood in American politics bred by the frustration of the later Bush years.
Hillary has no message per se. Or, as EJ points out, its all over the map, and theres nothing to connect the dots that are the details. Thats not to say that the details are not important, because of course they are. Positions for any candidates, as well as their policies and PLANS for implementing those plans, are the guts of what make the bureaucratic machine operate, and we all depend the semi-efficiency of that, whether we consciously consider it or not. And, Hillary IS strong on those details, (somebody has to be) which is presumably what the media and her campaign reference when they talk about her experience. The thing is, the mood of the American public these days is focused LESS on how the changes will be accomplished, (i.e. the paperwork) and more concerned with the larger picture..what is it gonna look like, and how will it work when the renovation is complete.
Obama apparently picked up on this distinction, and I picked up on the fact that HE had, when I was watching that interview that 60 minutes had with both of them. In response to a question on this, Obama said that when he was first campaigning at local spots, town hall meetings, etc, etc, a common complaint from the people was they he was too professoritorial, providing far more detail than they really cared about. So, he has obviously made adjustments along the way.
He DOES have those details available, on just about any position or policy, for anybody who actually wants to know. Its all there on his campaign website. And, he DOES address current and on-going issues that people also care about, in his speeches, and in the debates.
Hillary however, provides these details, and gets stuck on things that she probably doesnt get across to the public the way she might actually intend, or maybe she misreads the overall public mentality. (actually, thats her big stumbling block). The thing with the Drivers License is an example. I was surprised myself, at the public reaction to that, and even more that it could be such a polarizing detail.
On that single issue, I didnt think it was a big deal for illegal immigrants to have Drivers Licenses, based on the whole purpose of a drivers license to begin with. Its like any other license. Its bureaucratic proof that one can legally operate a vehicle, and binds the person to the requirements of knowing the rules and the laws involved. Yes, it also servers as a form of State/bureaucratically issued identification, but so what? All it stipulates is that the holder is legally known as whatever his/her name is, and is licensed to operate a specific vehicle type. It DOES NOT provide proof of US citizenship, and cannot be used as a stand-alone form of documentation to prove that. It does NOT operate in lieu of a voter registration document, and it doesnt guarantee access to state or federal resources. So I really dont get what the big deal is, about providing these licenses, and popping those people into a database like all the rest of us have to be in, if we want to legally operate vehicles.
That said, it seems ironic, or maybe paradoxical that it would be THAT single position from Hillary, that could bring her down in terms of her candidacy. I can think of a whole lot of reasons why I dont want her as president, but thats not one of them.
Meantime, EJ is right about her lacking a message to connect her details. She needs a thesis. She doesnt have one. The former professor (Obama) obviously does.
Report thisBy TJ, February 15, 2008 at 9:29 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Listen carefully to Obama’s rhetoric. This is nothing less than the sound of an ancient call to arms. Clinton is telling us that she will take the lead with good ideas and leadership qualities to solve problems. Hers is the sound of the experienced and highly qualified technocrat. Obama’s is the sound of the warrior - we fight together—against our common enemies.
Report thisI have seen little comment or analysis on these two very different appeals. I think it is profound. Does anyone have a better explaination for why he is drawing an increasing share of the male vote?
By Patrick Walker, February 15, 2008 at 9:00 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
... they just didn’t check. As always the media just goes with whatever is spoonfed by whatever suit stands in front of the microphone.
This is typical of the modern age. Investigative journalism is dead. Media reports are filled with quotes from anonymous high-level sources. The remaining time is filled with useless celebrity claptrap and pointless professional sports scores.
I don’t like either HRC or Obama and both would be disasterous for the Democrats. Not much the Right Wing Hate Machine can do to HRC anymore that they already haven’t done and now there’s this whole Larry Craig Gay-Cocaine-Sex-In-A-Limo allegation on the Obama side.
Edwards was a fool to drop out when he did I think.
Report thisBy Trigger finger, February 15, 2008 at 8:18 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
People just HAVE TO get to know her better. She is NOT arrogant and DOES NOT have big business up her behind. She DOES NOT want to give big business all that cheap labor. Its just that Lazy Americans would rather watch TV than work construction jobs at 75 cents an hour. I’m surprised America has survived as long as it has with such a lazy population. Only people with any ambition at all are the thieving CEO’s and the bushes. They have enough ambition to steal and pocket all the wealth of America and Iraq too. It pays to be brilliant! Oh, one of these days we’ll all be involved in a “JUST” war!
People, don’t waste your time voting, this outcome will be decided by the chosen few and screw all of you common lazy suckers.
By the way, any truth to the rumor that when Hillery is in the big house that her secret service will be of outsourced to illegal immigrants?
Report thisBy rage, February 15, 2008 at 7:15 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
What happened to Hillary Clinton? Well, Bill, for one thing!
Then, there’s her dismissive underestimation of Obama’s electability, followed by too many debates, boob flashing, irritating cackling, shamelessly whoring her own mom for votes, Gloria Steinem, Magic Johson, Barbara Streisand, Rupert Murdock, the entire 42nd US Presidential Cabinet, the desperation of demanding the seating of delegates from Florida and Michigan, the misguidedness of not campaigning in Wisconsin and Hawaii, Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, her own obnoxious shrillness, her poorly timed tears, that pathetic whining, the petulent griping, pimping Chelsea to the Super Delegates, that grating ‘will you help me!?!!’ holler in New Hampshire that damn near Howard-Deaned her, the utter ineptitude of Team Hillary, that testament to her fiscal ineptidute in the form of a $5 million loan-to-self after having raised boatloads of cash, and, alas, Bill.
Did I mention Bill?
Report thisBy omop, February 15, 2008 at 3:28 pm #
“Wisdom for office doesn’t come from following the herd”. Spot on. And arrogance coupled with contempt for the ordinary citizen is a pro-vote killer.
What happened to Hillary began way back before her vote for one of America’s most heinous act named “cakewalking into Iraq”. Standing by a liar both in a personal and legal sense just not to detract from her quest to be President.
To add to Mike M-C’s condemnation of the immorality of the war one needs to consider Hillary’s own immoraility
Report thisBy felicity, February 15, 2008 at 2:43 pm #
are more apt to attend caucuses - according to the
Report thisClintons. So, why did they attempt to shut down caucus sites at Nevada casinos. Casino employees are upscalers? Don’t think so. Let’s hear the Clinton ‘story’ for this glaring contradiction - and while they’re at it, a few others.
By Greg Bacon, February 15, 2008 at 7:04 am #
All Things Considered
Last year, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton took the unusual step of renting out some of her lists. The transaction once again highlights the Clintons’ connections to a businessman who now faces questions from the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Reports from Clinton’s campaign show that on Dec. 3, it collected payment for renting out three mailing lists, the sale of which netted them $8,225.
It was an unusual transaction, according to Roger Craver, a liberal guru of the political direct-mail industry.
“As a general rule, a campaign will not let its donor list out into the markets until the campaign is over,” he said. “This is the mother’s milk of small-gift fundraising, and they use these lists frequently.”
Several sources who work in political consulting and in direct mail, who would not speak for attribution, said they were surprised by the deal, as well as its low price.
According to one direct-mail professional, $800,000 would have seemed like a more plausible price for a quality list. A political consultant suggested that the list broker’s unidentified client could have rented the list as a sample one to do a test-run mailing.
But most intriguing of all was the renter of the Clinton list: a list brokerage company that is a subsidiary of one of the data-collection industry titans, Info U.S.A.
Info U.S.A.‘s CEO is Vinod Gupta, a close ally of both Clintons. Gupta’s empire also includes the Opinion Research Corporation, which conducts the political polling for the television network CNN.
Vin Gupta has a long history of giving and raising campaign money for the Clintons, and gave $1 million for the 2000 Millennium Celebration, a New Year’s Party thrown by the Clintons.
Last fall, ABC News reported that the library rented out a portion of its donor list to a list broker the same one that rented Hillary Clinton’s campaign lists.
Gupta spent $900,000 of corporate money flying the Clintons to various destinations. The Clinton campaign said in May that Info U.S.A. had been reimbursed to comply with federal campaigning and ethics rules.
After the Clintons left the White House, Gupta hired Bill Clinton as a consultant. It’s one of two continuing business relationships he has had since leaving office, and it has been worth $3.3 million, in addition to the options on 100,000 shares of stock.
Kevin Starke is a stock analyst in Connecticut who follows Gupta’s company.
“If it were me, and I had hired Bill Clinton to the tune of $3 million, I think I would try to make a fairly distinct case for why that was money well spent, and I’m not entirely clear on why he hasn’t done so,” Starke said.
The corporate spending on behalf of the Clintons helped fuel a shareholder lawsuit against Gupta and 10 corporate directors.
There are plenty of other allegations in the suit about homes, cars, and a yacht for Gupta. A Delaware chancery court judge dismissed some of the allegations involving the Clintons. But the case is still proceeding.
“It’s not a company that’s threatened with bankruptcy or anything like that. It needs probably to be run with more of a view toward generating value for all shareholders, and not just the main shareholder,” Starke said.
Info U.S.A. did not respond to interview requests this week.
The Clinton campaign said Wednesday that the lists were rented out by her 2006 Senate campaign committee and that the rentals took place before she began her formal campaign for president last January.
That would mean the rental fees went unpaid for at least 11 months. Starke, the analyst, cites Info U.S.A. data showing that on average, it settles accounts within 64 days.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18958566
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